Hi. I got PA when I was 26. I'm 36 now. In between those years I became allergic to more things including tree nuts and shellfish. I was happy to find this peanutallergy.com as I have a son who is severely allergic to peanuts/tree nuts/seeds and although reading these boards some times gives me tears, and sometimes gives me laughs it keeps me somewhat sane dealing with allergies. I can handle the allergies - it's the people that I can't control and some people don't get it. But whatever you do stay calm when you explain peanut allergies to people no matter how they react or else we look like psychos (even when we have good reason). I pray for everyone here to be safe. And I thank God that I found this site.

Quote:Originally posted by ajgauthier:
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I don't have an idea of how many "adults who grew up with PA" there are now on the boards. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Adrienne

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I didn't grow up with PA.

I have adult-onset. I'm 57. Was diagnosed at 55, though probably had PA for quite a few years before diagnosis.

Why am I here? Information and camaraderie of those dealing with the same problem.

I think I was diagnosed when I was between 2-4, my mom doesn't remember and thankfully neither do I. I'm about to turn 24, so been living with it for around 20 years.

I honestly have no clue why I'm here...I know I sought out PA.com for a reason, but I can't remember if it was just curiousity or if it was around the time I thought I had maybe outgrown it, or if I was looking for info on clinical trials and the site popped up.

The reason I'm still here is because I'm obsessive. Seriously. Once I post something, I *have* to come back to make sure no one posted anything in reply to my post. And while I'm checking, I open up some more windows, and then because I can't help myself, I post a reply to another topic, starting the cycle all over again. I've got about 5 different sites I do this with. Fortunately a few months ago I went 10 days without internet and was just fine, so it's not an addiction, just a slightly OCD thing.

heh, sorry, I know that was probably way more info than you wanted or needed [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

I'm 34 and have been PA all my life. I really don't come here for myself, but have found the info on new/safe products to be useful (like Philly Swirl, Sunbutter,
Kissables, etc.). I probably wouldn't have given these products much consideration without learning of them here.

I originally came here out of curiosity. When DS was little (7 years ago now) and dx'ed with MFA, I was researching corn-free living. An avoiding corn forum mentioned PA.com and I thought "Wow, a whole website devoted to PA - what's the purpose of that?? PA is no big deal." So I came here and started reading. Learned a few things, shook my head at a lot of things, and became hooked. I have a fair number of posts, but really lurk much more than I respond and almost never start a thread.

Hi. I'll be 67 in January and have been PA/TNA all my life. Never knew anyone else with these allergies as a child and only rarely came across other PA/TNA people as an adult until the last 20 years. It's been a real education reading everyone's posts on this website. I read the posts almost every day, partly to see what experiences others have had that are similar to mine--like that there are other people out there who can't use liquid soap without getting eczema and that this is connected to PA. It's always been difficult for me to talk about my PA, but I feel badly for the parents of PA children and so I have occasionally responded to posts and shared what it has felt like to me to have an anaphylactic reaction or to use an epipen, in the hope that it may help them know more about what their children may be experiencing.

wow, thanks everyone for such a great response! Looks like I de-lurked some people [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Anyone else?

So - I'm 32 and my parents discovered I was allergic to peanuts when I was almost 2. Peanut M&M was the culprit, and from what I hear they got to me to ER just in time. My mom's favorite anecdote is that before that reaction, she'd try to give me PB on toast and I'd toss it across the room!

I haven't had an ingestion reaction in over 16 years (some of you can beat that!), but I recently tested still allergic (CLASS V on CAPRAST). Though a recent thread about having high numbers and not being allergic anymore got me thinking...

I forget now how I discovered PA.com, but I did. It helps put the allergy in perspective. Coming here has tightened up my comfort level a bit, but I honestly think that's a life saver. Who ever heard of 'chef cards' or carrying 4 epipens on your person? Not me! I find the information these parents dig up very useful, especially about products and restaurants. My hope in being active on the board is to share insights with the parents --- it's tough being PA and being a kid, there are things I wish my mom knew I was feeling growing up, and lessons I've learned that hopefully someone else can benefit from before they hit that age. I think all of us adults on here have stories of 'geez, wish someone had warned me about that!'

Question: how in the world did we survive our K-12 school years without 504's? (partially sarcastic, partially jealous)

I'm actually adult-onset. Diagnosed late 1999. Joined PADOTCOM early 2000. Will hit the half-century next April. Came here originally looking for others in the same predicament... help / support / information. Hardly post now, but still read.

I am not sure what age I was when I realized that peanuts made my throat itchy - maybe 7 or 8. I was never officially daignosed and up until I was 26 I could eat creamy PB but no other peanut products. Then my reactions got worse resulting in full blown Anaphylaxis at a restaurant. I am going to be 35 on Sunday and have not had a reaction since 1997 - that was the one where I thought I was going to die...

I'm 21 and have been PA my whole life in addition to having numerous other food and environmental allergies and asthma.

I don't come on here too often and very rarely post. I usually check out the media and research threads. Occasionally, I check out the other threads but I always find it so interesting to read how much things have changed since I was a kid . I was the first kid in my school district to have an epipen and nebulizer and now it's all such common practice with an increased awareness and 504s, etc).

My identical twin & I have had pa all our lives - 43yrs to be exact. Started out Milk and egg allergy (i was also allergic to bananas) and then parents worked out we were also very allergic to peanuts. Grew out of the other allergies but kept pa.

thank you everyone for posting [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Many more adult PAs actually "here" than there are posting. Thank you for de-lurking to post [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Okay everyone, I found my way over here...but for those that didn't read my inital post in the introduction section, I'll try to redo it here.

My name is Carla and I am from Oklahoma. I am 28 years old and was born with the peanut allergy. Unlike most children who outgrow their food allergies, mine has gotten progressively worse over the years. My immune system is really messed up...I also have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis which affect the immune system and may be part of the reason the PA has gotten worse instead of better...but anyways I hope to be able to gather lots of information from this site; it is really nice to be connected to other people who are living with the same kinds of problems I am...and I also hope that some of my own experiences will be helpful to ya'll as well.
That's all for now....but I'll be back [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Hi Carla - My PA has gotten worse as well. Actually, not worse in reaction but increasingly sensitive (now airborne will set me off). I also have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I don't think it has had any effect on my peanut sensitivity, though. I've been getting more and more sensitive all my life, but was only recently diagnosed with the psoriatic arthritis. The two may be related in that they're both parts of a screwed-up, hyperactive immune system - who knows?

I honestly have begun to wonder if there isn't some connection to all of these problems. I'm told by my mother that I showed signs of having arthritis problems when I was a child but my parents had no insurance for me and could not afford to take me in to get looked at...they said I eventually stopped complaining about problems and so they stopped worrying about them. I had signs of psoriasis when I was in middle school; a rash developed on my arms and would not go away no matter what we tried (again there was no money for a doctor). Eventually it was pure sunlight that cleared the rash up and I went 5 years or slightly more before having anymore symptoms. At that time I had severe psoriatic arthritis symptoms but even a trip to the doctor was futile...he said I was perfectly healthy even for being an overweight teenager, he could find nothing wrong with me except the fact that my white blood cell count was elevated. Well that normally means there's an infection being fought...so I would have thought he'd look harder but he didn't. Anyway I spent two months crawling around my house unable to walk or put pressure on my knees/ankles until one day my Aunt asked if I had tried Aleve. I'd never even heard of it...She gave me two pills and the next morning I actually got dressed and went to school; which I also hadn't done in two months. That was my miracle drug for 10 years until it got to the point I was having to increase to an unsafe dosage per day. It wasn't until May of this year that I was finally able to get a proper diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis and now I've been off and on several different meds; I seem to have allergies to a lot of them. Anyway I have just recently been put on Humira and am hoping that it will help...starting it within the next week or so. But like I said, due to the nature of my case, I'm really beginning to wonder if there isn't something we were born with (or possibly without) that is a key factor connecting these problems...

[This message has been edited by SapphireEmbers (edited December 06, 2006).]

I'm 20 now, so I think I sort of fall into the adult category at this point (AHHH!!!!)... I randomly developed PA when I was about 8 or 9. I like these boards even though I'm not on here too much because there's so much information... Especially regarding airlines and food manufacturers, etc... The kind of stuff that is such a pain to be wondering about and researching all on your own, not knowing if you're getting good info or not!

Hi, I'm relatively new to the boards (been here for a few months and posted a few times)
I've been TNA all my life, but avoid PN now also, I'll be 41 this year.
When I was younger it seemed so much easier to deal with. Over the last few years so many things with nuts have come out (cereal, lotions, coffee,) it seems impossible to get any food that has not run the risk of being x-contaminated.
These sites have been a God send! It's so nice to know that there are others out there that live the "careful" lifestyle that I do. I now have some heart complications though so if I need to take my epi-pen they know I WILL have a drug interaction, I was told that my heart being affected by the epi-pen is 2nd to the anaphaltic reaction! Scary... I am also seperated from my husband who was eating nuts lying about it and bringing them into our house without me knowing...(I have reacted in the past to contact from someone eating nuts) but that is another story for another site...lol...
Thanks everyone for sharing and God Bless you all!
Beth

Hello! Nice to meet you all. I am 32 and have been a peanut allergy sufferer since birth. I am constantly trying to learn more and better protect myself all the time about my allergy. Looking forward to chatting with you all.

welcome to new faces in the crowd [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Even though you may not see many adults posting (a few of us post everywhere) and most of the conversation is about children and schools...there are active adults on here and we do discuss issues related to being an adult with PA (among other food allergies). Things like how you handle the allergy at work, alcohol, going out to bars and being safe, eating out, traveling, family issues, and 'personal/intimate' issues (believe me, there are PA related issues in that department).

So - please do post if you have a question or want to relate a story in the adult thread [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Also - please do post in other threads...some of us adults with PA do speak up and give insights with regards to the more child-oriented topics (schools, friends, foods, etc.)

I have mostly been lurking here, still trying to sift through all of the information. So far it's helped me quite a bit, so thank you!

I developed PN allergy, among many others, after a case of Mono that I still haven't completely recovered from. I used to study kung fu and work 12 hour days. Now I work 32 hours a week and am constantly exhuasted and in pain as a result. Blech!

I developed the allergies at 27 and I'm 37 now. I still struggle with the fear and the frustration... in regards to myself and others.

Many people just don't get it, but it's nice to come here and find an understanding take on it all.

Hi! I'm new and just wanted to introduce myself. I've been reading these boards for years, and am definitely not new to peanut allergies! I'm in my mid-20's and was diagnosed at age 3. My allergy has gotten increasingly more severe lately, so I've been on here trying to figure out as much info as possible! You guys are a wonderful wealth of information and support!

Welcome pateach! I read another of your posts - and you mentioned that you are a teacher. Great to hear as I'm sure your students are educated about food allergies.

So glad to see another adult on the boards....especially since you've been living with it for so long. I'm sure the parents of the PA kids - and those of us with adult-onset PA will benefit by your experiences.
cheers,
Adele

I am new to this website, and have been reading for about five or six months, but only posting for a short time now.

I check this website daily, because I find that it gives me inspiration that I am gonna make it in this world with MFA. I also find a sense of belonging, especially since I am the only one I know with any type of FA, and frankly my co-workers/friends/family just don't understand.

Quote:Originally posted by Pebbles Mommy:
[b]Hi, I am 26 and my story is growing monthly.

I've had pollen/plant allegies since infancy.

I've had chemical allergies for over ten years.

I've had mushroom allergies for 6 years.

I've had PA for almost 11 months.

I've had nut allergies for 8 months.

I've had shellfish allergies for 3 months.

I am new to this website, and have been reading for about five or six months, but only posting for a short time now.

I check this website daily, because I find that it gives me inspiration that I am gonna make it in this world with MFA. I also find a sense of belonging, especially since I am the only one I know with any type of FA, and frankly my co-workers/friends/family just don't understand.

[/b]

welcome to PA.com! and...sorry you have to be here...

You are not alone [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] There are some adults on here that have had PA or other food allergies their entire life and other adults who have adult onset food allergies. Sometimes we have different perspectives about the allergy and how to handle it on a day to day basis without going insane, but we all are placed in similar social and work situations where the allergy comes into play.

Going back through this Adults area will be very informative if you haven't already done so. Workplace situations, intimate situations (yes, you can have reactions from what OTHER people eat if you are, uh, interacting with that person), bars & alcohol, traveling, eating out...

I'm 37 and have had severe peanut allergy for as long as I can remember, so over 30 years.

I haven't had a reaction in over 12 years, I seem to avoid them pretty well, went to the allergist yesterday as I wondered if I had grown out of it, but no such luck, my results were as bad as they get, so they just did up a new emergency action plan for me and sent me on my merry way and I can go back in a few years when they get the cure or desensitization program or whatever it is called, available.

Am really interested reading about so many people with this allergy. I know of many children with it but have never actually met another adult with it.

I'm 37 and have had severe peanut allergy for as long as I can remember, so over 30 years.

I haven't had a reaction in over 12 years, I seem to avoid them pretty well, went to the allergist yesterday as I wondered if I had grown out of it, but no such luck, my results were as bad as they get, so they just did up a new emergency action plan for me and sent me on my merry way and I can go back in a few years when they get the cure or desensitization program or whatever it is called, available.

Am really interested reading about so many people with this allergy. I know of many children with it but have never actually met another adult with it.

Moni

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Welcome Moni! Glad you found our site [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

I am 38 and I had my first allergic reaction when I was 2 or 3 years old. My mother likes to tell the story of living just outside of a US airforce base in Italy and the baby sitter giving me a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich, then me going into anaphylactic shock and then the hospital. We found out I am severely PA & TNA. I have since then had good and bad years with avoiding reactions. I have only ever been back the hospital once (as an adult). I found this site yesterday as I was waiting for my antihistamines to kick in from an allergic reaction to nuts. I am working in Mexico right now and I just ate some crackers with nuts in them. I have had the spanish words for every type of nut I could think of memorized, but I somehow skipped over the rather obvious ingredient 'nuez' when I read the package.
So far I am intrigued by this site; I have never talked to anyone who was also deathly allergic to nuts. It is good to hear of their similar experiences. I suppose it makes it not seem so alien knowing others are coping with it. It is weird reading the experiences of mothers (where are the fathers?) dealing with their kids allergies, now that this allergy seems a lot more mainstream. When I was a kid in school all I remember about my allergy was eating cream cheese and jelly sandwichs and not eating cookies unless my mom made them.

I'm Mark... been on the boards for a while, but hardly ever post. I actually have not been around for about 5 or 6 months now.

I have had PA and TNA since I was 3 or 4 I believe. I am 34 now. I had several reactions before we figured out what was actually going on, but I had a relatively reaction free childhood.

Now, being "all grown up" so to speak I have had many more reations. Last big one was about a year ago... took a bite of something, it contained peanuts, long story short... I was in the ER AGAIN!! uugghhhh... I didnt even swallow anything... just took a bite and spit it out as soon as I tasted it. (I am deathly allergic)

Good thing I had my EPI with me though. I was with some friends at the time, and they called 911 for me.

I have contact reactions all the time usually at work. Everyone knows about my allergy, but really dont seem to care about it.

Funny story, (not really) but the other day I was at the bar with a few of my friends. The bar sells the small packages of peanuts to everyone. One of my friends thought it would be cute to take a peanut and rub it on my arm. I didnt know he did that until I was itching all over my arm... I think he really didnt believe I had the allery, and wanted to "test" me to see if it was real or not. Well, after a few foul words from me and his wife beating him up for that, he said he was sorry. He also got a lot of lip from the rest of my friends there too. (we are all medics... but he isnt)

I just turned 68 and have life threatening allergies to peanuts and most tree nuts.

Somehow I have managed to grow up and have a great life, but I sure like the safety of my home.

Seriously, I have traveled all over the world and only had a few problems with food because I am very very careful.

I have a daughter and three stepchildren who are extremely careful with foods when I am around. Fortunately, at my age, I can be around nuts (except peanuts) and not have a reaction. But peanuts in a bowl or in peanut butter drive me up a wall. Just the smell makes me throw up.

Flying is the most frightening experience in my life. I can rely on my epipens and being careful, but you just can't control airlines or the people who fly. So I try not to fly much any more. I don't take buses or trains or other public transportation mostly because of where I live and not needing to. But flying often is the only way to get somewhere.

I wonder if any other people avoid flying like I do. Nowadays, I just take a nice cruise to some wonderful place and enjoy travel.

I haven't been on the PA site for a long time. Don't know why I checked in today except it is the day after Christmas and I don't want to do any work.

When I see posts from parents on these threads, I often wonder how I lived to grow up. We didn't know what I had exactly until I was in the upper grades of elementary school. My allergies have grown worse and continue to do so.

I also have lots of other allergies to foods (unprocessed citrus and other fruits, egg whites, peas, many other foods) and environmentals (dust, mold, trees and other growing things, etc.) But for the most part, I take my one or two allergy tablets each day and do pretty well.

My advice to you younger people is never to let your allergies hold you back. Just forge on, insist that those around you understand, and do pretty much whatever you want. I have done that and it has paid off for me. (Oh, and read those labels. LOL)

I'm 25 and have been PA my whole life, although I wasn't formally tested until I was in college - when I was a kid, my parents and other adults just assumed I was picky. Fortunately (in a backhanded sort of way), my allergy has gotten much worse over time - I didn't start having anaphylactic reactions 'til I was old enough to be able to avoid peanuts on my own - but it's still frustrating as all hell.